“" So, there you have it: a stellar cast, wonderful special effects and a gripping story.

“ But the whole idea is sickening and compelling enough to satisfy on more layers than just the visual.

“ The premise is ridiculous, the killing-spree pointless and stupid.

“ While the film excels in realistically portraying this intense situation, that doesn't mean it's lax in the thrills department.

“Imagine 'The Running Man' but take out the glamour and snappy one-liners of Hollywood and put in it's place 15 year olds who are very scared and very human.

“ It's action packed, with a great story, great acting, great follow throughs.

“ The production is sub-par, fantastically cliché and just great.

“ People tend to prefer pointless English-speaking movies with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the leading role to much better foreign films that have a brilliant idea.

“ Brats cliché movie with an attempt of deep premise .

“ Contrived.

“While the ideas of Battle Royale's premise are intriguing, the film is hampered by its style at times.

“ The action is outstanding and exciting.

“ However, ultimately, despite some thrilling aspects of genius, the film fails to live up to it's concept.

“ the film is great but i would say it is one that must be watched a couple of time as the story lines can be hard to follow.

“ Still, it is a good movie, has some interesting concepts and I recommend it for an entertaining evening.

“Director Kinji Fukasaku has crafted here a compelling, intelligent, and very daring tale.

“ Some unexpected alliances are formed, while some classroom rivalries take on a deadly new dimension.

“ Fukasaku's last film, banned in the US, Battle Royale, based on Takami Koushun's novel, inspired by others such as the Running Man, A Clockwork Orange and Lord of the Flies, is an intense experience and is the One film Everyone should see.

“ Finally, I can hardly put into words the disgust I have for the person who dared to call this film the 'greatest film Kubrick never made': beyond incredibly superficial, banal nods to Kubrick (especially soundtrack wise)this film had nothing of his in terms of intelligence, consistency, and above all beauty.

“ The story is very intriguing with futuristic ideas and some social issues thrown into it with graphic violence and gore with it to keep the viewer entertained, the company who made this movie called "Toei Studios" refuses to have this theatrically distributed in the U.

“ Horrifying, yet entertaining....

“' But in responding to this question BR is ultimately a reassuring, cowardly, pretentious film.

“ In fact, many critics have criticized the movie for its lack of plot buildup.

“ This movie was pretty funny, actually, and it's very overloaded, but it's entertaining.

“ Gory, enjoyable, well executed.

“ Yawn...

“ For one, the chosen protagonist -Nanahara- is a horribly uncharismatic, dull one.

“ Truly shocking, yet riveting in a way that makes you unable to stop watching.

“ The utter lack of realism is nauseating, which of course might satisfy a manga fan who would likely "artistically" appreciate the images and so on, but for me that sort of stuff is unreadable and pretentious waste of time and penny.

“ I am sure some bits remain out of my reach due to cultural distance, which may explain why I found the movie a tad bit heavy and repetitive at times.

“ The film ends with the oldest cliché in the book--the nice young couple on the run and against the misunderstanding world.

“ Stunning in its implications .

“ However, if you can get past this and realize that it is actually meant as a satire, this movie is mindblowing and extremely action packed.

“ The story, a class of 42 ninth graders forced by law to play the "most dangerous game" against each other, was intriguing and the mix of dark humor and graphic violence worked very well.

“The acting is absolutely outstanding and the film itself stunning.

“ Why a lot of guys waste their time talking to the opponent so he is able to turn the situation at his favor!!!

“ The way this pointless story is disclosed, most of the students seem to be normal youths, while the government and their teacher seem to be the sadistic villain.

“ The second complaint I have about this movie is the fact that it was very predictable.

“ Battle Royale's plot may seem a bit mundane to some.

“From most of the reviews, I expected it to be total garbage, but it was actually entertaining at face value.

“A bold and interesting movie, and exciting and fun in a weird sense at the same time, this one will please a lot of viewers.

“From the beginning, the movie is intense.

“ Whilst these are highly entertaining to watch, they are based on extremely artificial, almost abstract rules being imposed on the participants.

“ Bombs, Uzi's, shotguns and anything available is used in bloody sequences which becomes tiresome after a while.

“ It is a very entertaining movie, and has a very deep hidden meaning that could connect with younger audiences, although this movie is extremely graphic and is not for anyone under 15.

“ But the movie, itself, standing alone, should get a lot of credit for simply being as intense and disturbing as it is, in a much more realistic way than your average crap American horror movie.

“ The other outsider is another stereotyped hero, who, in a major cop-out ending, rescues our innocent couple from the island so that they never need to think about killing anyone, or facing up to the fascinating moral issues involved in this situation.

“ The attractive young cast portrays a simple but engaging set of high school types, and their desperate fight for survival is rendered both gut wrenching and blackly comedic, often at the same time.

“ It practically lets you know that you're in for a wild, thought-provoking, horrific, unique, and exciting ride.

“ These actors actually are around 16, something you wouldnt believe from their performances, which range from good to stunning.

“ Instead of Shogo sitting down in a dinky medical clinic with Noriko and Shuya and babbles on about his past love and how he wants to remember her smile, it would be more interesting and connecting if Shuya asked him something similar to: "Shogo, before everyone fell asleep, I saw you try to punch open the bus window.

“ All the while, the stunning photography and the use of classical music in contrast to the mind-bending violence gives it a very "Kubrickian" flavor, which is probably just what director Fukasaku intended.

“ Not because of the violence, but because its horrible, has horrible actors, plot, development of characters, and its totally predictable.

“ but then again, this whole movie is a waste of time.

“ Besides, the plot is so thrilling that there is not enough time to pay attention to acting skills, technical part or other smaller details.

“ In the third series of the UK version, new and cruel twists have been added, and again these have made extremely enjoyable viewing.

“ Granted the first twenty-five minutes are reasonably entertaining and original, after that it descended into gunfire (with only the memorable grenade instant to alleviate the boredom) and cheap, obvious sentimentality.

“ The story of all the characters are fascinating and very emotional.

“ The pacing is excellent, there's nary a dull moment to be seen, and the carnage is frequent.

“2) It is very predictable.

“ One of these is a characterless and thoroughly pointless villain, who wanders round ignoring all the bullets and other weapons that hit him and firing, almost continuously, an inexhaustible machine gun.

“ A sad gripping disturbing horror/drama that i LOVED.

“Despite this and the violence which is sustained and graphic I found it a gripping and thought provoking film which I would thoroughly recommend.

“ But things start to get extra intense with the constant threat of Kiriyama (Masanobu Ando), who has decided to come *back* to another BR after being declared the winner.

“ The book had me loving these characters, hating the characters, on the edge of my seat, and actually in tears near the end of the book.

“ He says not one word during the entire film, which is an utter action/B movie cliche, and feels like an excuse not to have to bother with more pesky characterisation in a film of forty plus key characters.

“ Pointless .

“ Intense movie .

“ It just added to the confusion and made the plot disappear.

“ The movie is quite often breathtaking.

“Knowing what the movie is about, one would also expect to see some intense action as the game of destruction plays out.

“The film is very exciting and well-photographed.

“ The worst movie I've ever seen .

“ Everything is completely predictable.

“What makes this movie remarkable is the way it is played deadpan as an action drama, and make no mistake, this is action at its finest - pulsating, chaotic and gripping.

“ Instead of being a sharp social commentary on modern society using horrific situations, it becomes a repetitive sequence of terror scenes that forgets its purpose and collapses on itself.

“The intensity of the opening, as the 'chosen' children learn their predicament, and the bitter righteousness with which teacher Kitano establishes his dominance over them is instantly gripping, and visually horrifying.

“ It was very sad, very intense, and very entertaining.

“Battle royale is a compelling piece of cinematography, the script is an accurately observed, insight in the teenage psyche, and the character distinctions between the sexes are superbly blurred, with girls being slaughtered (and slaughtering) in the same manner as their male counter parts; the symphonic crescendo's of still flashbacks, which give the characters a little meaning, to obscene carnage carry the gratuitousness of the violence easily.

“ It's to the credit of the amazing late filmmaker Kinji Fukasaku, that even though the quality of the DVD I watched it on really sucked butt-pucker, BATTLE ROYALE still turned to be one of the most unsettling and riveting experiences I've had watching any foreign film, horror or otherwise.

“ A sleep-inducing soap built on a surreal manga setting .

“In concussion, the trivialization of death, youth and coming of age that this film does is disgusting.

“ The cliché 'gasp-and-die' acting is constantly repeated, and most wounds inflicted on each other are pretty unconvincing (especially the wounds inflicted by the SMG).

“ Sure some of it was ridiculous but it was all played out so sincerly that it was completely engrossing (at least for me).

“I thought that the story was very haunting and compelling, and that you should read the novel or the comic book before watching the movie because just the use of your imagination and attachment to the characters while reading the books is so much more real.

“ The storyline may at first seem odd, but is executed in a very enjoyable way by Kinji Fukasaku (RIP).

“ Highly entertaining!.

“ Enjoyable the first time .

“ The score, utilising a beautiful set of classical European compositions, really helps to add to the juxtapositions of the innocuous and mundane with the deadly and the extreme, which are apparent throughout the movie.

“ Its one of the worst movies I have ever seen in my life, and I have seen it all.

“ Whether it's the amateur teens doing their best, or they were told to be that bad I don't know, but it's unbearable.

“ You look at the painting and you think--gee this is a fascinating innovation OR oh my goodness, what a scam.

“ Some of the lines did not make sense, were inappropriate, or even seriously confusing ('your parents have been informed, so go for it!

“ Essentially plotless staged fake snuff movie .

“ Kitano wins some of the driest laughs (as well as some moments of curious, unexpected tenderness, covering a student mourning her slain friend with an umbrella in the rain) as their grumpily world-weary teacher, while Tarô Yamamoto is stoically fun as hard-edged survivor Kawada.

“ Usually, the flick is rather entertaining.

“ It was extremely intense seeing how the kids reacted to their situation.

“ Battle Royale illustrates the compelling nature of hate and violence that lives inside of every human alive; the chilling rage that you and me both possess.

“ This is the source to why the film is so utterly gripping (like the book I suppose).

“ Somehow this manages to not overstimulate the viewer to the point where it becomes unpleasant, and yet create an atmosphere of constant threat and danger, and compelling drama.

“ Every aspect of this film is just breathtaking.

“ but overall i feel this was a brilliant film with tons of gruesome thrilling moments.

“ 42 characters are just too many to deal with in any real depth in this 2hrs slow paced movie, so they are dropped off like unknown flies with no real character development; and of course it makes for boringly repetitive death scenes.

“People who claim they have a genuine love for Japanese film because they saw Ringu have been sheep-like in their desire to use BR as a club to beat American movies with, but most Americans can hopefully see past all the pretentious, empty claims that have been made for this sophistic, empty film.

“ This movie was truly disturbing, twisted, and heartbreaking excellent acting from all involved and a wonderfully creative and intriguing film.

“ There just isn't any boring moment in this movie, just about every part is thrilling to the point it hardly gives a breather.

“ mind blowing film that makes you think.

“ This movie is action packed from start to end, never get boring, there something, new every second of the film.

“ ** 1/2 out of **** Battle Royale presents one of the most engrossing and utterly terrifying premises I've ever heard.

“ This movie, yet very very violent, is probably the single most entertaining movie I have ever seen.

“ We get plenty of excess, intense and memorable characters, with a healthy serving of gallows humor thrown in.

“The scene where we hear the voice of Shuya,a stunning quote "When I was at the 4 th grade mom left,and in my first day of the 7 th grade my father hung himself.." I believe many people that have loved the movie will remember this quote for a long time.

“with the predictable disastrous consequences.

“ This is cinema at it's very best: entertaining, explosive, deep and thought-provoking, deserving of multiple viewings to fully appreciate the message it conveys.

“ Even the teacher, who is mostly the comic relief in this intense film, reads off the death list and the order they died in, just before telling each student what part of the island is a danger zone.

“ b) After Kitano has taken several bullets from Nanaharo's machine gun his phone rings and he gets up like nothing happened, answers the phone and then dies.

“ Its pretty easy to see the social commentary, but just for the slow its basically mirroring the competition that Japenese students go through.

“ Also the backstory is really confusing, despite being simple.

“ From word of mouth I was expecting something powerful and exciting and what I got was a mediocre melodrama puntuated every so often with brief sequences that engaged me.

“ With over forty students in the class, very few are fleshed out in depth either, which makes it difficult to get emotionally invested, and while the killing methods vary, there remains something repetitive in just watching countless teenagers die.

“ This film is intense, thrilling, exciting, and actually well acted for a cast of mainly inexperienced teenage actors.

“ Despite the dull, uninvolving angst of it's protagonist and weak ending, it's great moments are great enough to make it a must-see.

“ Boring Gorefest .

“ Even if they were spelled correctly, it was still cheesy and predictable.

“ Violent,entertaining and gut-wrenching masterpiece .

“" and this idea is questioned many times over and explored with intriguing outcomes.

“ This is engaging, absurd, beautiful, with moments of creepiness...

“ I found it exciting and cathartic.

“ Battle Royale is perfectly riveting.

“ There's plenty of action packed thrills and plot twists to keep even the least likely viewer tantalized and gripped till the end.

“ This movie has humour , irony violence, tons of blood , it's shocking and super entertaining no wonder why it's Tarantino's favorite movie, it can be considered even as a satire.

“ Immensely entertaining social satire.

“ The premise is workable, the cinematography is well done and the acting is very good, but the script ranges from confusing to downright nonsense.

“ Also the scene where Shuya Nanahara notices everyone is sleeping and tries to get Norika Nakagawa's cookies and then being knocked out by a woman is a complete waste of time and film feel.

“And, worst of all, the ending was also predictable.

“ It even examines the intense social pressure faced by teenagers.

“ If you've got the stomach for dark humour and gore, it's well worth watching to find out if you're part of the first group.

“ As you can imagine, I have widely watched all sort of japanese stuff on TV or theater, from anime to drama, from porno to the most boring cultural event on TV you can possibly think of.

“ I give this Kinji Fukasaku's masterpiece a 10/10 rating and I am very pleased it was even more stunning experience with my second viewing.

“ I only got bored a couple times.

“ Battle Royale is the most compelling film.

“ Equally, the other "exchange student", Kawada, has a hugely tedious subplot concerning his previous entry into a Battle Royale.

“ Its entertaining still.

“ Somehow critics think this is exciting, and says something about how a metaphorical imperialistic Japanese govt treats the youth.

“This controversial Japanese film is a real favourite of mine, a fascinating tale of human instinct for survival by any type of means.

“ The premise for this stylish and intense film is certainly one that reels you in: in a Japan of the future, society is breaking down.

“The acting is over done and hammy, the plot is dull and the violence is so over the top to the point where it became tedious.

“ Tedious and repetitive .

“ the violent and breathtaking scenes with political set-up really steals the show.

“This is a really enjoyable film dispite being a little controversial.

“ Its provocative and entertaining, and although the ending seems slightly tacked on, it manages to remain fresh and maintain a solid pace from beginning to end, despite its many flashbacks.

“ It will appeal to those who are looking simply for a fight flick with plenty of gore on show, but on another level it can become frightening, engrossing and truly original.

“ We delve into a daydream sequence in which she imagines engaging in warm banter with her crush as she runs.

“ The director produces an insightful cinematic production and a host of skilled young actors take challenging roles, which could have easily become farcical, and produce harrowing and realistic characters, each as engrossing as the others.

“ A sad gripping, disturbing horror/drama that i LOVED WARNING!!!!

“ Claiming that `each character or set of characters was but a device for portraying a fatal flaw of humankind' is a pretentious way of making an exploitation film into an allegory.

“ At those who find the pain of others enjoyable when packaged properly, and we who do our children a disservice by creating an environment where violence is a viable option.

“ phonies, and it was quite entertaining.

“ It's obviously not for everyone, but if my brief description sounded cool, don't waste any time on getting your hands on this.

“ 'Battle Royale' is easily one of the most exciting and original movies of the decade so far.

“ We live in a movie world dominated by sales and profits which is why movies like charlies angels exists ( no one saw the movie for its plot or originality, merely to see some stunning women doing highkicks).

“ With the events in Columbine, killings at school in the US and in Japan, this film is quite compelling.

“ The problem with Battle Royale is that it is the most shallow, most air-headed, most pretentious and dumb kind of "smart film" out there.

“ Action sequences are pretty intense at times, which makes the N-15 rating all that more necessary.

“ From the opening scene with the stunning use of visual and audio techniques, when the winner of last years game is presented to the press, to the taunting instruction video in how to play Battle Royale properly, the movie seems to take a bite at every aspect of the Japanese and perhaps even the western culture.

“ Battle Royal is brutal, raw, intense and very original and dared.

“ Maybe this was part of Fukasaku's sense of humor, but it quickly became tiresome.

“ If you like gripping action and an interesting story this is a film you need to see.

“ Having made that decision immediately, the film became merely an exciting kind of action flick.

“ However, given these constraints, I think Kinji Fukasaku did a really good job at maintaining the integral elements that make Battle Royale so fascinating.

“ This movie has many unexpected twists and cool fight sequences, A must see movie, This movie has many fans worldwide I'm sure of it (the most popular fan being Quentin Tarantino it was because of this film that he casted Chiaki Kuriyama in Kill Bill, thats how much he loved this film)If you haven't watched this movie you have no idea what your are missing out on,And finally if your in a high school class thats about to go on an unexpected three day field trip, you may want to thing again about going.

“ There are movies much more shocking and entertaining than this.

“ Shuya, Noriko and Shogo form an alliance to try and escape the island, while other classmates alternate between forming similar partnerships or engaging in the bloodthirsty slaughter of everyone who stands between them and victory.

“ This is one of those movies you surely want to see a couple of times if youre into crazy killing and suspensefull gorefests,it really deserves a good place in anyones Collection as it is in mine,this mvie is worth the prize of WHATEVER you pay to get it, a definite good show full with unexpected scenes and fastpaced action, This is one of my top ten definately.

“ It is at times suspenseful, action-packed, heartwarming, cold-blooded and sympathetic.

“ Even though the premise is beyond stupid and completely illogical the fact is the game is a fascinating one with many different options available to its contestants.

“ His girlfriend isn't much better, they are just bland, they aren't that memorable, and they don't really do anything.

“ Fukusaku's directorial approach is impeccable, the action scenes suitably adrenaline packed, and the emotional moments truly affecting; the cast is brilliant, with particularly outstanding performances from living legend Takeshi Kitano as Kitano, and Ko Shibasaki as Mitsuko, serious contender for the most callous killer ever; and the soundtrack is wonderful, the rousing classical music perfectly complementing the bloody on-screen mayhem.

“ The authority as depicted by the army (grown-ups) is quite sinister and the action entertaining.

“ What initially appears to be a vague and outlandish plot with school children fighting for their lives, pitted against each other in a frantic tale of survival becomes a gripping and frightening tale of normal people pushed to far.

“ If you are able to get passed that then you'll be treated to a very violent and entertaining film.

“ Talk about psychologically intense.

“ The BR is extremely boring to watch in comparison since there are no common character(s) to root for.

“ Battle Royale is a brave, exciting and at the same time important movie about war, losing your individuality and the will to survive, even in a terrible, hatefull world.

“ Its not quite the visceral attack on the senses we are lead to believe it is, however it is genuinely entertaining and it does make a lot of good ideological points.

“ I don't know that it was all that thoughtful as others seem to think, but man oh man was it entertaining!

“ By championing these two innocents, the film both tries to give a moral compass and centre to itself, and detracts from it's most fascinating element.

“ Every performance is breathtaking, considering the actors are 14 or 15, and that this was for many their first role.

“ Believe it or not, this film, easily misinterpreted as a gory teen slasher action movie, is actually a very very good film with stunning production values and a script that works on multiple levels.

“ This movie was really intense.

“ The plot was confusing with little attention being paid to whether it actually made sense and how you could understand it without first reading the book is beyond me.

“ However, it is the tension area between the violence and absurdity that is most compelling- Do we cease to see something as dark, ominous, wrong- because of our familiarity with it?

“ As I said, it innovates, but the result comes a little too confusing and sadly we don't have too much time to attach emotionally to these characters, because almost all of them die, some of them in a way that is simply too much.

“Nevertheless, the film is entertaining despite its flaws and it clearly has inspired books and flicks such as "The Hunger Games" recently.

“ I would give the movie an 8 out of 10, but the story is one that gets quite repetitive until the end.

“ The combination of a such a morbidly fascinating premise, expert directing, fast-paced action sequences, and a beautiful Classical score by Masamichi Amano make for a cinematic event that is worth watching again and again.

“ Well, I'd heard this movie described as "Survivor" on steroids, and I admit I was intrigued by the violence factor, but after watching it, I must say I enjoyed it more for the plot and underlying meaning than the "eye-candy.

“ If you enjoyed this movie and you were OK with the violence I strongly suggest you should read the novel and/or the manga (both far more violent and more suspenseful).

“ Other plotlines involve different children's reactions to the situation, the banding together of groups, the two uncertain elements (the so-called "transfer students" - human killing machines placed on the island to make the game more exciting), the sadistic teacher's personal problems, the power relationships, the rebellious elements and the nascent sexualities of some of the kids involved.

“ This is simply a gripping and enthralling flick, that will get you immersed from the beginning to end.

“ Stunning .

“The use of classical music is the definition of pretentious: it shoots for deep meaning and falls flat on its stupid face.

“ While the plot follows the book quite closely, the especially gripping parts of the book are just kind of laid out there without any back-story.

“ Very violent, very un-PC, very entertaining, and very Japanese.

“ Rather Boring.

“Personally, I view it as an over-the-top, but intriguing premise.

“Despite these admittedly minor problems, however, "Battle Royale" is a tense, disturbing, and exciting film.

“Snuff films like this could be a bore, or insulting, or cathartic, or appetite-whetting.

“A film this visually intense, action-packed and boundary pushing?

“ I got a copy of Battle royale on a regional 3 dvd and it was excellent first off the film was shocking and action packed with a realistic edge which made you think what if i was put in that situation, The subtitles were clear to read and the dolby digital dts sound mix was amazing.

“thought this movie was a mere pointless, slasher/splatter movie.

“ This is not my first Japanese movie (and not the first Japanese action movie either), and this acting would definitely be considered bad, but equally hilarious and even sometimes engaging and entertaining.

“ The action set pieces are exciting, especially the events that take place amongst a group of girls in a lighthouse.

“ Tatsuya Fujiwara and Aki Maeda are okay as the cute high school sweethearts trying to find a way out of the games and Taro Yamamoto is engaging as the Transfer student from Kobe who can't seem to make up his mind on the occupation of his father.

“ Horrifically enjoyable, in a terribly beautiful way.......

“ The relationships between many of the children and the groupings they make are fascinating as is the fear and paranoia that many of them feel.

“ It's refreshing, it's highly entertaining and I loved every minute.

“ Gory, ultra violent, and close to pointless.

“For starters, this film is Japanese, so you can be guaranteed an in depth story, with serious and yet sometimes even suspenseful atmosphere.

“ Watching how the average stereotypical teenage misfits act under such a situation was very entertaining, the bitchy popular cheerleader type was my favourate!

“ The fight scenes bored me!

“ So, that may first sound stupid and pointless...

“ The movie is suspenseful and will keep you at the edge of your seat to the very end.

“ The ending is unpredictable and leaves you wanting more.

“ Instead, Battle Royale limps to a finale that's uncharacteristically bland given everything that came before.

“ I don't know where to start,this is absolutely a thrilling teenage killing masterpiece by Kinji Fukasaku.

“However, the book contains a lot more than just the crazy concept and intense violence.

“ Still worth watching to see attractive young people trying to kill each other with a variety of different weapons.

“ Growing tired of nothing happening, the students rebel against the school system.

“The main concept is very simple but at the same time very intriguing.

“Much like "Lord of the Flies", Battle Royale is a coming of age film where the veneer of civilized society is brushed away to reveal the dark heart of human nature.

“ I quite enjoyed it, 8/10.

“ That sometimes really bored me.

“A second feature of this film was that it was entirely unpredictable.

“ A compelling & haunting masterpiece.

“ theres a few good splattery killings, but the last half of the movie was just plain boring.

“ While still gripping, it could be so much more gripping if you knew of the years of anguish the characters went through before tragedy struck.

“Overall, I Think this was a great movie, watching the students being forced to kill the ones they loved, was both sad and exciting.

“From here on out, the adrenaline fuelled violence is thick and fast, within the first minute of the game starting, one girl approaches the screen with an arrow through her neck, asking her former friend "What is this?

“There are twists and turns along the way and it's suspenseful all the way through.

“ I found it to be exciting and simply a fun time watching a movie.

“ The plot is intriguing, as you are always wondering how it will end.

“I gave battle royale a ten because it was unpredictable, realistically violent, emotional and foremost i thought the cast were amazing.

“ It is definitely worth watching and it will make you keep watching because each time you will notice some thing knew and make you look at it in a different way and it may take you some time to work out the ending which is quite fun (although i cheated and looked on the internet :P).

“ I found this very dark and surprisingly brutal, but in a very enjoyable and entertaining way.

“ The premise is there, but the movie is slow, uninteresting, and dare I say it..boring. Sadly boring is the best adjective I have to describe this movie.

“ Watching as each character undergoes a unique arc is what makes this extremely fast paced movie so entertaining.

“ This aside, it is an immensely enjoyable film with plenty of storyline, political connotations and action to appease all manner of movie fans.

“ Based upon the novel by Koushoun Takami, it has a real cult following based upon its simple and compelling plot-42 Japanese 9th graders are kidnapped and released on a deserted island by their government, given weapons and commanded to kill each other within three days until there is only one survivor; if more than one is still alive at the end of the three days, than all will be killed.

“ It is fast paced and keeps you on the edge of your seat in a movie where you don't even trust anyone.

“ This movie had me on the edge of my seat until the end (which was great), and I've rarely been so engrossed by a movie.

“ The actors portray convincing students, it's actually STUNNING how good every teen actor in this movie is.

“ This is a beautifully filmed and acted movie (Takeshi Kitano is brilliant, as always), with plenty of violence and action, as well as a truly intriguing storyline.

“ What unfolds is a gripping, harsh story about the youth of today and where it might one day head if someone gets the wrong idea on how to 'deal' with them.

“The movie is just a very dull attempt bringing it on the big screen.

“ The book was so in depth, and intense.

“ This film has reached notoriety because of its violence, and while there wasnt anything that really disturbed me (ive seen worse than this in hollywood flicks since the 70s), the fact that there is a coherent, strangely realistic storyline centering on actual young teens in the framework makes it all so much more intense.

“ It gets a bit confusing at the end, even though the outcome is trite and expected.

“ It's a great movie and I highly recommend it.

“ And completely engaging.

“ I actually recommend seeing Battle Royale; I enjoyed it immensely.

“ But enjoyable all the same, especially for exploitation fans.

“ But this is also the main point what makes the movie very confronting and worth watching.

“ Director Kinju Fukasaku and writer Kenta Fukasaku ingeniously use the gripping premise to turn the themes of trust, friendship, loyalty, betrayal, and competitiveness on their collective ears in the most startling and twisted manner imaginable.

“Now that's out the way, the fact that it's contrived takes nothing away from the fact that the result can be a thought-provoking film for some, a red-fest for the rest.

“" is answered in a most brutal and exciting manner as the film introduces a wide range of interesting and......

“ Don't waste your time with this piece of trash .

“ what of expansion on the fascinating "teacher" character?...

“ Violent,Fast Paced,Suspense filled MASTERPIECE.

“ Still though the brutality overshadows the comedy and its a very dark yet entertaining movie.

“ While the outer look of BR may seem like a cheap excuse for pointless slaughter, the movie itself offers numerous views and critiques against the modern society in which we live in.

“ Some will find it too gruesome for their taste while few will have an enjoyable ride even if the movie doesn't feel like a classic to them right now.

“ As this film began, I felt sickened by all the carnage, seeming far too intense for anything less than an NC17 rating in the US.

“ Half of the time, the movie basically follows the story of the four, rather uninteresting stereotypes, for most of the movie.

“ It helped to change the mood quickly and the exciting scenes would be quite dull without these sounds.

“ I came upon an original plot, good acting, good cinematography, great special effects and some unexpected comedy that was well timed and in good taste.

“ What it is is an excellent over-the-top action flick, but one that actually has good acting, an exciting premise, a very balanced plot and manages to get a surprising amount of depth in for the type of film it is.

“Someone decide to play the game to death like the psycho assassin teen,while others commit suicide themselves and another are attempting to encounter a way out to get off the empty island where exist a special danger zones.

“ In a film that is mainly about people being killed, the violence allows the film to have a unique style, and, without the violence, the film would have felt fairly bland.

“ Even for this premise, the plot is a bit contrived, with each character having a soap opera-ish background that conveniently lays the groundwork for the violence to reign supreme.

“ Adding to this, there's also a level of human involvement that's absorbing.

“ The only slightly large query was the poor plot, or lack of it; one couldn't see why there would be a random lottery in only one tiny section of the world where innocent children were taken to an island to kill each other - "Hey, Prime Minister, who wants to kill off random children, some of which could be ours, in a pointless fight to the death?

“The whole hunting game is very fascinating to follow since it's so creative.

“ The Idea is stunning.

“ The script is genuinely unpredictable as in who lives and who dies, and it's very interesting to see the natural winners (such as the pretty girl) becoming increasingly ruthless as they slaughter their way through their classmates as the game progresses.

“(2) The entire first act is engaging.

“ I was really bored by the killings and they were not impressing at all when the amount is huge like that.

“ The idea is so compelling that it sort of makes the film better than it actually is.

“ This is an original and entertaining flick.

“ Use of classic music and modern soundtrack is stunning and works well together with brutal, bloody scenes which improve shock.

“ It has a very potent message, but is enjoyable enough to watch over and over.

“ The production efforts were alright, some plot holes, but other than that, the bad production and such only amplify the great great GREAT cliché-ness of the movie.

“ In today's fast paced world Kinji Fukasaku takes the single idea of competition and twists it into a stunning metaphor for the battle for a place in society.

“ The movie just felt empty.

“ Over-Hyped, Pretentious, And Riddled With Clichés .

“ BR instead panders in the opposite direction by insisting that nice young bland people can rise above nasty old adults.

“ I will just say that this film is brilliant in story, well acted (yes even though it's in Japanese), and visually stunning.

“ What I wasn't expecting, however, was such a well made, engrossing film that's full of some of the blackest humor I've seen in a while.

“ They are there to represent the real enemy, the government, but especially the ringleader, Kitano-sensei (Takeshi Kitano), is a bit bland.

“Battle Royale is one of a kind film which will assuredly keep you on the edge of your seats.

“ The other nauseating thing is the borrowing of every single cliche of a classical piece in movie history (like Bach's Air) and playing it loudly and constantly in the background.

“ In the camera's eye, he's a known entity, a cliché movie tough who has to fall eventually because they always do.

“ I prefer the theatrical cut over the director's cut because it leaves a little more to the imagination when it comes to the origin stories but the director's cut is worth watching after you've seen the original version.

“ Overall, Battle Royale is a nice combination of compelling story and technical know-how.

“ The atrocities of the battle are counted with some snappy one-liners and flashbacks to happier times.

“ Battle Royale really is a film worth watching.

“ It is very thrilling though, wondering who was going to survive or the situations where people are pointing weapons at each other.

“ I tend to choose to do the latter, on which basis it is quite entertaining.

“ Batoru Rowarariu starts off really well, the opening 60 odd minutes fly by & it is both gripping & entertaining but then it settles into a somewhat repetitive routine which I found became very dull.

“ sick and twisted but compelling .

“ Very impressive, and very entertaining .

“ shocking, exciting & thought provoking .

“ Utterly contrived, completely Japanese, efficiently executed .

“ In fact, many scenes in this movie feel somewhat exaggerated and surreal and keep this movie from being brutally intense.

“ After a while, the story gets predictable and redundant.

“ It is definitely worth the watch.

“It's boring, it's stupid, the effects are a joke, and the little action there was gives way to a toe-curling melodramatic yawn-fest after an hour.

“The rest of the remaining 42 students serve as a cross-section of every student type you've ever known, and it is fascinating to see their approaches to their situation.

“ The movie had so many plot-holes and was generally just plain confusing because of the random changes made, like Shogo Kawada and Kazuo Kiriyama transferring specifically for the game, just to name one.

“ This had some extremely intense, violent, but always predictable scenes in it, which was extremely disappointing.

“ Chiaki Kuriyama of the "Kill Bill" films and Japanese icon Takeshi Kitano are also well worth watching.

“ Stunning cinema .

“ Only the exchange students and the pitiless female student as well as the weird teacher happen to be intriguing enough to carry this film on.

“ There are some thrilling moments and gore for the fans of teen-slashers.

“ The acting is top-notch, the special effects are beyond believable, and the tension is unbearable.

“ This movie is fantastic, with great character development, thrilling plot, and cool action, this movie entertains on many levels.

“ I'm not sure that was the director's intent, but it was entertaining nonetheless!

“ It's "go right for the jugular" attitude is unexpected and certainly welcomed in a movie which could ONLY be made in an overseas market.

“ Many recent films feature characters that are bland, boring and forgettable.

“ If a film about school children killing school children isn't your cup of tea , this film isn't for you, but if you can get passed that this film is well worth watching !!

“Basically, it's a contrived plot (anything that has to be explained for 10 minutes by a video girl in military hotpants has to be contrived)that forms the excuse for getting little boys and little girls to get at each other with any and all weapons they have- rather like a Nintendo game, no?

“ There have been contrasting cries of "greatest film ever made" and "pointless gore fest" made about BR, and neither are accurate in my opinion.

“Interesting characters die quickly while boring characters survive.

“ It makes for both gripping, exciting, enjoyable and horrifying watching.

“ Heavily flawed, but still quite gripping.

“ The basic premise of rounding up a bunch of Pretty Young Things and subjecting them to pointless violence has been a staple of cinema horror for many years.

“From the first and most unexpected death, battle royale tears your idea of disbelief, like a lion attacking a lame mouse.

“ For the European viewer this is a new movie genre that is really intriguing and at the same time funny.

“ Unwatchable Nonsense .

“ Truthfully, it's been a long time since I've seen something like this: compelling, disturbing, dark, frightening, powerful....

“As controversial as it is fascinating, this adaptation of the notorious novel explores humanity's animalistic tendencies through the means of children, garnering disturbing results.

“Most of the characters were cliché, and many of their reactions were not credible.

“ I found it suspenseful, and I found the characters interesting (at least the ones that the film focused on).

“ And as another user commented, one of the most gripping factors is that this involves children and teenagers.

“ And I think that was what Fukasaku wanted to achieve with his work, he wanted his audience to leave questioning their own nature.

“Big problem with this movie, the main character, Shuyna I believe his name is, is an incredibly boring lead.

“ there is no plot, and it's hard to care about even one character before he or she gets stabbed, shot, blown up, or poisoned.

“ Unique and unusual, definitely entertaining.

“ She puts poison into Shuya's meal, and when one of her more excitable friends takes a bite from the dish, there is a delicious twenty seconds of near unbearable tension, as the girls continue conversing breezily as Yuko stares transfixed at her now doomed friend, shaking like a palm tree in the face of a hurricane.

“ Useless explaining is just boring, when important stuff can be revealed otherwise.

“ The great thing about it is you don't have to follow the storyline if you don't want to, (it is much more enjoyable if you do follow the story) if you just want to watch people being shot or blown up or stabbed you can.

“ You could shoot holes in the plot and the cheap production values all day long, but for me it's worth watching for the sometimes poignant personal stories of the contestants and their former teacher.

“ Nothing was shocking, nothing was intense, it was just senseless violence that led to a predictable and terrible ending.

“ You have to be in to manga or oriental stuff, otherwise it'll bore you straight away.